James and Maysie (Sinnott) Whalen were married on November 19, 1918 at St Stephen's Catholic Church in Stephen, Minnesota.The attendants were Maysie's brother Jack and cousin Mary Sinnott. James and Maysie were the first couple married in the church.

James Austin graduated from Stephen High School in 1910 was born in section 8, Sinnott Township, Marshall County, Minnesota on December 19, 1892. The first born and first son of Johnny and Mary Ann (Hughes) Whalen among

Mary Ellen ("Maysie") was born on July 31, 1892 in the southwest 1/4 of section 8, Sinnott Township, Marshall County, Minnesota. Seventh born among eight children of James P. and Margaret (Dixon) Sinnott. Maysie graduated from Stephen High School in 1911.Maysie attended Moorhead Teachers College and she taught in rural schools until she married.
 
 
 

James and Maysie first home was a 16 by 16 shanty located in section 7 in Sinnott Township, Marshall County, moving to the Sig Hanson place on the South West 1/4 of section 9, Sinnott Township, Marshall County, Minnesota.

James and Maysie were the parents of 8 children. Mark,born August 4, 1918, Stephen,born January 7, 1921,Philip,born September 30, 1922,Frances,born March 4, 1924, Elizabeth( Bette) born April 9. 1926,Daniel,born December 12/13, 1927,Charles,born May 12, 1929 (1) andJohn, born August 29, 1931.

James farmed, growing barley, wheat, sweet clover, alfalfa. Generally what was grown in the area, he also had milk cows. At harvest time he was the operator of the neighbors machine making the rounds of the farms and finally getting to his own farm. He was known for his mechanical ability, repairing his own equipment and maybe some neighbors too.

Maysi e was kept busy around the house with the eight children and her daily chores. She got some relief with the older ones looking after the younger and the kids doing their chores also. She made clothes for the kids from the grownups castoffs (2). One year she wrote the Whalen family history for Daniel's school project.

The Whalens moved to the Sinnott place with Maysie's mother after the death of her father in the early twenties. Maggie didn't want to be alone. They were there until 1932 when they moved to the Sig Hanson place. The bank had foreclosed on the Sinnott place,. it was possibly rented from the bankand farmed. The Hanson place had a bigger barn, more pasture land and a better supply of water. Dad made a deal with Albert Stengrium who hadbeen renting it. We would help him out and we got to stay there.(3)

In 1945 James and Maysie moved to the Quanstrom place 10 miles east, southwest 1/4 of section 12 Augsburg Township. The local Priest was Father Lutticke; his cousin Miss Wurm, who was his house keeper, had bought the Quanstrom place. James and Maysie needed a place with buildings to use; they had to move Hanson place.Father Luticke said, "James, Ill sell you this place" No money changed hands until Mark and Stephen put up.the money, $ 2,000 apiece after coming home from the army Frances put up part of the money to have electricity put in the.place when they got the REA. James and Maysie lived here the rest of their lives. By 1954 all of James nd Maysie's children had left home.(5)

Mark had left for Montana in 1940. Stephen also for Montana in 1941. Both got jobs on the Great Northern Railroad. Philip left in 1944. All 3 were in the army. Frances graduated in 1942 and attended a 1 - year teachers training school for teaching that fall. Bette left for the Cadet Nurse Corps in the later part of WW 2 under the army. Daniel left for Montana in 1947, landing a job on the Great Northern Railroad. Charles was attending college in Montana around 1948. John left for the army in 1954.

Prayer book that belonged MAYSIE

Maysiepassed away at home at the young age of 62 in 1955 just 19 days short of her 63rd birthday. She had been in poor health for some time. She had a heart attack out on the porch.

 In the mid 50's they made it so farmers paid into social security and could draw a pension when they retired; up until then they couldn't. James paid income tax and social security tax, when he got his 5 years in that they had to put in; he then retired. They had the so much money off that Soil Bank. They figured that would have been money coming in if he had been farming in the summer so they because he'd go out measuring land for the Soil Bank and help Frances' husband Bernard with his combining; he made more money than he was getting off his Social Security. When he turned 70, he said they won't cut off my Social Security, I can work all I want; I don't feel like working that much anymore. (4)

James passed away at home September 6, 1973. He would have been 81 December 19th of that year. He had gone to town that day and got his groceries, came home and fixed supper, read his paper and went to bed and never woke up. We should all be so lucky doing what we normally do until the end.

1. & 2. From Daniel J. Whalen the actual date may be a day different.

3. From Daniel J. Whalen

4 & 5. From Mark Whalen

 
 

JOHNNY & MARY ANN  LENORA WHALEN INDEX

PICTURES

NINTEEN 10 IN ARMOUR

BETTE'S NINTEEN TODAY

STELLAR COMPUTER CONSULTING
HAVRE, MONTANA
 
 

HOUSE OF WHALEN INDEX